Do you have an hp iPAQ Pocket PC h5550?

cockroachfarm

cockroachfarm

Joined
Jan 6, 2001
Messages
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I want to upgrade my PDA. I currently have a Sony PEG-NR70V/U and I am thinking of getting the HP iPAQ Pocket PC h5550. Does anyone here have one? Good points, bad points?

(Bluetooth and lots of memory are important to me; a built in digital camera is not)
 
I have a 2215.

It pretty much rocks.

Older than the one your looking at, but it has both the CF and SD expansion ports. Very versitile and does everything I need it to do. I love it.
 
Bluetooth comes equipped on the 2215... WiFi does not (but I use a SD WiFi card and it's fast as heck).

Program memory allways seems to hover around 18-20 MB, and storage memory can be expanded using the CF or SD ports (I have a 512MB SD card in mine pretty much all the time).
 
Like I said... it's their older model, but it's pretty versitile and at $200 less than the 5500 series...

The 5500 has twice the RAM, and a tad more ROM storage... but you use a good scaling program (Pocket Hack Master is what I'm using) and you don't notice much difference in the processor speed. Keep most everything on a CF (5500 doesn't have a CF slot) or SD card and you'll never notice a difference in memory.

Add a $40 WiFi card and your set.

Here are some specs:

Description: iPAQ H5550 PDA (400MHz, 128MB, PC/SD/MMC Card, Pocket PC 2003)
Manufacturer: HP (Hewlett-Packard)
Lowest Price: $470.00
User Rating: (4.00 / 5.00) - (Read 4 Reviews)
Detailed Specifications
Backlit Display: Yes
Installed ROM: 48 MB
Operating System: Microsoft Pocket PC 2003
Input Method: Stylus, Track Stick
Included Functions: Address Book, Audio Playback, Audio Recording, Bluetooth Compatibility, Calculator, Calendar, E-mail, Handwriting Recognition, Integrated MP3 Player, Note Pad, Phone Book, Scheduler, Wireless Internet
Included Devices: AC Adapter, Docking Cradle, Installation Software, Speaker, Stylus
Battery Type: Lithium Ion
Color Depth: 65,536 Colors (16-bit)
Included Network Card: Wireless Ethernet - 11 Mbps IEEE802.11b
Interface Type: Audio - Headphone Out (1/8" Mini), USB - Universal Serial Bus "A"
Number of Batteries: 1
Power Options: AC Input, Battery, Rechargeable Battery
Display Size: 3.8 in
Display Type: Active Matrix LCD (TFT)
Installed Memory: 128 MB
Slots: MMC Slot, Secure Digital (SD) Slot, Type I PC Card
Processor Speed: 400 MHz
Dimensions
Height: .63 in
Width: 3.3 in
Depth: 5.43 in
Weight: 7.29 oz
Reference
Warranty Information: 1 Year Limited Warranty
URL: Manufacturer Link

------VS-------
Description: iPAQ H2215 PDA (400MHz, 64MB, CompactFlash/SD/MMC Card, Pocket PC 2003)
Manufacturer: HP (Hewlett-Packard)
Lowest Price: $225.00
User Rating: (4.86 / 5.00) - (Read 14 Reviews)
Detailed Specifications
Backlit Display: Yes
Installed ROM: 32 MB
Operating System: Microsoft Pocket PC 2003
Input Method: Stylus, Touchscreen
Included Functions: Audio Recording, Bluetooth Compatibility, E-mail, Note Pad, Video Playback, Web Browser, Wireless Internet
Included Devices: AC Adapter, Lan Card, Speaker
Battery Life: 12 hour(s)
Battery Type: Lithium Ion
Color Depth: 65,536 Colors (16-bit)
Interface Type: Audio - Headphone Out (1/8" Mini), Audio - Microphone In (1/8" Mini), USB - Universal Serial Bus "B"
Number of Batteries: 1
Power Options: Battery, Rechargeable Battery
Display Size: 3.5 in
Display Type: Active Matrix LCD (TFT)
Installed Memory: 64 MB
Slots: Compact Flash Type I, Compact Flash Type II, MMC Slot, Secure Digital (SD) Slot
Processor Speed: 400 MHz
Dimensions
Height: 5.6 in
Width: 2.75 in
Depth: 0.6 in
Weight: 5.1 oz
Reference
Warranty Information: Manufacturer Link
URL: Manufacturer Link
Description
A broad range of features, multimedia, and Bluetooth wireless technology make the small and sleek iPAQ H2215 Pocket PC an essential tool for communicating and managing information anywhere.
 
I have two H5450's

Advantages:
400 MHz Strong Arm processor (sounds good, don't notice any performance boost)
Biometric fingerprint scanner
Wireless 802.11b
Bluetooth
IRDA
Universal Remote Control which works perfectly (5450 don't know if it's included in 5550)

Disadvantages:
Heavy
Bad battery life (2½h)
Stupid earphone jack position (bottom left) which requires an L shaped walkman earphone jack - frigging annoying
 
Thanks, guys - great info. (I also downloaded those specs from the HP site)

Is that "2.5 hr. battery life" with constant or intermittent use? If that's constant use, that's good enough for me! (I do all my "real" work on a couple of laptops anyway)
 
cockroachfarm said:
Thanks, guys - great info. (I also downloaded those specs from the HP site)

Is that "2.5 hr. battery life" with constant or intermittent use? If that's constant use, that's good enough for me! (I do all my "real" work on a couple of laptops anyway)
Click to expand...

Constant use with WiFi but with no sound and 70%ish backlight. My newest Ipaq is a 100Mhz Texas Instrument 6340 which lasts about 15h
 
The 400 MHZ X-Scale blows away the Strongarm... especially if you use a scalig program. It's like a transmission for the processor. Shifts down when your not asking much of it (conserving battery life, too), and bumps up the speed when you've got a lot going on.

I get close to 4 hrs of usable battery life.

No fingerprint scanner, or built in 802.11b WifFi... but I've made up for it in other ways.
 
won't you consider using a dell?
i've been using the X30 and it's been great.

* 624MHz XScale Processor
* 16-bit 3.5" QVGA Transflective Display
* Windows Mobile 2003 SE
* 64MB RAM / 64MB ROM
* Onboard 802.11b Wi-Fi & Bluetooth
* Removable 950mAh Battery
* Weight: 4.9oz; 3.0" x 4.82" x 0.59"
* Infrared Port
* Secure Digital Slot w/ SDIO Support

The X50v is even better. But i guess you've got your reasons on why you're choosing HP. I just find Dell easy to order from and they've been delivering my stuff realy quickly. Just got a notebook from them as well. Ordered and arrived at my place within a week.
 
I'm revisiting this query since I have decided to forego the ipaq (I have three active cellphones and a Blackberry now :( ). Since I'm already familiar with Sony Clié and the Palm OS, I thought I'd pick up a Sony UX-50. Mostly for the extra memory, WiFi capabilities, and adding a GPS module.

Anyone own a UX-50 who would be kind enough to share their experiences - good and bad? TIA.
 
I have 5550.

Bad points:

1: 640x480 display is becoming the norm nowadays for people with decent eyesight (i'm vision impaired so i don't mind lower reolution- it actually suits me better ebcause things are larger this way, although less stuff fits onto the screen at the same time).

2: I'm not too fond on relatively limited M$'s Windows thingy but that's hardly Ipaq's fault. I tried out Familiar (Linux distribution for Ipaqs) and certain tasks were a bit slow, considering that it has twice the CPU power of my other desktop Linux box and twice the RAM. This is pretty much irrelevant for everyday tasks though, especially if you intend to stick with M$ software.

Good points: heh,you got me there, this is my first PDA so i have nothing to compare it with. I read many comments about 5550, saying it has awesome display (display is decent enough as far as i'm concerned) and that its Wifi draws less power (and consequently allows battery to last longer) than any other PDA.

All in all, i think it's a very nice piece of hardware but you're likely to have more use from a 640x480 display if you have normal eyesight. There is a very similar Ipaq model (HX4700 ?) with big amount of RAM,same expansion slots and communication options but it has 640x480 resolution display, improved graphics controller and IIRC also a built-in camera (which mostlikely cannot compete with even the cheapest standalone digital camera, as is the case with any PDA with camera).
 
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